Mantawi hosts M. Lhuillier in Visayas Division opener

Action in the Visayas Division of the ML Kwarta Padala Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference will take off tomorrow with the Cebu Landmaster-Mantawi of realtor Joe Soberano playing host to inaugural champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City Jewelers of businessman Michel Lhuillier.

The lone match is set at 5:30 pm at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

"We're very much ready. Hopefully, we will be able to defend our title," said MVBA founder and M. Lhuillier coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba as they kick off ther title-retention bid in the league supported by Nature's Spring, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Reva Sandals, Gameface.Ph and Nike Basketball.

"It's a tougher challenge for us now because of the crossover format, meaning, we have to play against Mindanao teams in the elimination round," added Alcoseba.

Alcoseba said he will squeeze the most from his old reliables following the departure of Ardy Larong, Jet Latonio, Ryan Dy and Reed Friar Juntilla.

These include Mike Manigo, Stephen Padilla, Woodrow Enriquez, Danny Aying and Alano Caputolan plus two of Cebu's hottest collegiate stars today - Jayford Rodriguez of six-time CESAFI champion UV Green Lancers and Enrico Llanto of the USC Warriors.

The only addition to the M. Lhuillier roster is Aletroy Mercader, Llanto's teammate at USC.

While M. Lhuillier maintained the core of its team that won the First Conference crown via three-game sweep over GenSan Pacman (now MP Warriors-GenSan) some few months ago, Cebu Landmaster-Mantawi (formerly Toledo) underwent a massive buildup.

This as Cebu Landmaster coach Leoncio "Jun" Tan, Jr. hired the services of former PBA standout Dale Singson, ex-PCU Dolphin center Joel Solis and veteran guards Raul Redulosa, Abe Galinato and Michael Luga to bolster their championship campaign.

They will play alongside Jun Tan's holdovers from his Toledo lineup in Alex Cainglet, Bernie Ursal, Rex Mangubat, Ian Saladaga, Carlos Sayon and Luther Justiniani.

"As long as they will play as a team and not individually, I think we have a big chance of winning the championship," said coach Tan.

Completing the Visayas Division entries are the MLSDF-Talisay City Aquastars of coach Eddie Ybañez and the Toyota-Iloilo Warriors.

Hostilities in the Mindanao Division already blasted off earlier this month at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro City.

Holcim Pryce-MisOr is currently on top of the heap with a clean 3-0 win-loss record. MP Warrios-Gensan and Iligan Archangels are tied at 1-1, while league newcomer Lanao del Norte is at the cellar without win in three starts.